Munyaradzi Machacha Biography | Role in Second Chimurenga | Military and Political Career | Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology
This is the biography of Munyaradzi Machacha a Zimbabwean politician and a senior member of Zanu-PF. He has served in various capacities within the party, including as a Politburo member and as the former Principal of the Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology.
Role in the Second Chimurenga
During Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, known as the Second Chimurenga, Machacha operated under the name George Kashiri. He served as the liaison officer at Foxtrot Assembly Point in Buhera, Manicaland.
Foxtrot was the largest assembly point in the country at the time, accommodating approximately 15,000 freedom fighters. As a liaison officer, Machacha acted as the primary link between ZANLA forces and the Commonwealth Monitoring Force (CMF).
The CMF, established by the British Commonwealth, included troops from Australia, Fiji, Kenya, and New Zealand. Its mission was to maintain peace between Rhodesian forces and Patriotic Front guerrillas in the lead-up to the 1980 elections that would mark the birth of an independent Zimbabwe.
Military and Political Career
After the liberation struggle, Machacha joined the Zimbabwe National Army, rising to the rank of Brigadier General before retiring.
In the political sphere, he held various roles within Zanu-PF, including serving as the Director of Publications and as a board member for the diamond mining company Anjin Investments Pvt Ltd as of 2013.
Machacha was also a member of the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (COPAC), contributing to the development of Zimbabwe’s constitution.
In November 2024, he was appointed Zanu-PF’s National Political Commissar, a significant leadership role within the party.
Leadership at the Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology
Machacha led the Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology following the establishment of Zimbabwe’s Second Republic in 2017. Under his leadership, the school focused on training and ideological education for Zanu-PF members. He held this position until 2024, when he was succeeded by Ishmael Mada.
